Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 4, 1993 Page: 1 of 10
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Specials
Page 10
The Rio Grande Herald
Published weekly in Rio Grande City, Texas every Thursday by The Rio Grande Publishing Co.
H-E-B
INSERTS
INSIDE
USPS 466-200 / )5, Thursday, February 4,1993
——— /£(7#u* K •fxipji'cfl*-.. ./ ™
SaenL -^uctea into
25 cents
Third rabies case of
Hall of Honor
By TISSA PETERSON
Ruben Saenz was inducted into
the Hall of Honor of the City of
Palms Football Clinic at a banquet
held on Saturday, January 29, at the
Holidome in McAllcn.
Other inductees for 1993 were Joe
Green and David Mosqueda.
The honorees were each presented
with a plaque proclaiming their
induction into the Hall of Honor,
1993, and imprinted with their name
and the names of Clinic Directors
Richard Flores and John Lerma.
They also received Certificates of
Excellence bearing the seal of the
State of Texas and signed by Eddie
Lucio, Jr., State Senator of District
27, stating, "For your
distinguished service to athletes,
education, and your immeasurable
dedication to the students of the Rio
Grande. Valley. May this milestone
in your life be a special time for
you and your family and may it
symbolize a lifetime commitment
to serving our community, our
great state of Texas, ar.d our
country."
Ruben Saenz lettered in football,
basketball, track, and baseball
during his four years at San Isidro
High School. His love of athletics
and education have been very
evident throughout his years of
service to the schools of the Rio
Grande City and McAllen school
districts.
As he and his wife, Olga, raised
their two sons, Ruben Jr. and
Ricardo, they taught them to love
education and sports and to uphold
S
r
Ruben Saenz, Tar left, is pictured above during his
days as a Little League coach. Saenz was inducted into
the Hail of Honor of the City of Palms Football Clinic
at a banquet held last week in McAllen.
Fair Assn. continues
preparing for 1993 Fair
The Starr County Youth Fair
Board and other committee
members are continuing
preparations for this year's annual
Youth Fair and would like to stress
that this year it expects to have
record-breaking participation in
livestock entries.
Validations held earlier showed
that there will be approximately 35
breed cattle entries, 45 steers, 77
lambs, 38 market hogs, 33 meat
goats, and 80 rabbit entries. There
will also be many commercial
cattle exhibitions from different
breeders throughout the area.
The Youth Fair Board and other
community members are also
working and planning for this year's
wild game dinner to be held on Feb.
20 at 7 p.m. at the Fair Grounds.
Last year's dinner was extremely
Welfare Board plans
community forum
The Starr County Child Welfare
Board will host a community forum
on Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Roma
Jr. High School Cafeteria.
The forum, entitled "Child Abuse
and Neglect a Community
Concern", will have several
speakers from different state and
county agencies.
The all-day event will have
speakers from the Texas
Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services, the Roma ISD
and the Starr County Sheriffs
Department.
Information and admission is
free. For further information, or to
register, contact David Pena, Jr.,
Board President, at 487-7000 or
board member Nancy Garcia at
487-5521.
Texas Bancshares reports
record 1992 earnings
Texas Bancshares, Inc., whose
holdings include First National
Bank of South Texas in Rio Grande
City and San Antonio, reporfs
record earnings for 1992, according
to a statement by Chairman
Fredrick Erck.
Net income of $2,433,820 for
1992 represents a 185 percent
increase over 1991 earnings of
$852,900. Nominal growth in
assets was experienced in 1992 as
assets expanded by $769,000 to
$233,642,000 as of Dec. 31, 1992.
Texas Bancshares, a San
Antonio-based holding company,
also includes the Bank of South
Texas with offices in Florcsville
and Poth.
An improving loan portfolio and
lower interest rates were cited as
primary factors in the company's
earnings improvement. Chairman
Erck also crcdits "customer loyalty
in giving us a competitive edge in
our markets as we strive to provide
the very best personal service to all
our customers"
successful and featured various
groups from throughout Starr
County preparing various wild
game including deer chili, farrel
hog, dove, quail, fried fish, rabbit,
eland audad sheep and cowboy
bread. The Youth Fair Board invites
everyone to attend this year's
function. Donations will be
accepted at the ooor.
Also all individuals, or groups
interested in obtaining a sales booth
or concession stand for this year's
show should contact Alma Moreno
at 487-5681.
Anyone seeking further
information about this year's Youth
Fair should contact the County
Extension Office at 487-2306, Dr.
Roberto Margo at 487-3623 or Jose
Luis Garza at 487-0303.
The Starr County Youth Fair
Board invites everyone to become a
member of the Starr County Fair
Association. A spokesman noted,
"Participation as a member allows
you to provide wholesome and
educational activities for the youth
of Starr County."
Membership fees are $10 per
person. Membership allows a
person free entrance into the fair
grounds, and all activities taking
place, including dances, rodeos and
all other functions. Members'
names will also be placed in this
year's Youth Fair booklet. The
spokesman commented, "Your
participation will be a wise
investment."
All interested persons are urged to
cor pic te a membership application
and mail it to the Fair Association
Office at P.O. Box 841, Rio Grande
City, Texas 78582. Anyone
needing additional copies should
contact the County Extension
Office at 487-2306, Dr. Roberto
Margo at 487-3623 or Jose Luis
Garza at 487-0303.
year confirmed
the traditions that spoils encourage,
those of playing to win while
playing fair and doing one's best.
These traditions are being carried on
in their marriages with the raising
of grandchildren Aaron, Christina,
Ruben III, Ricardo Jr. and Stephen.
Son Ruben Jr. slates that his dad,
while serving in the Air Force, had
an 18-0 record as a pitcher who
could "throw an underhand pitch 70-
80 miles per hour, as hard as most
pitchers throw overhand."
When he returned to Rio Grande
City to teach Health and Physical
Education at Ringgold Junior High,
he also devoted his free time to
working with youth of the
community as a Little League
coach of the Cubs.
As a personal testament of the
need for good health and physical
fitness, Saenz stays active, playing
golf and walking briskly about Fort
Ringgold as he visits the schools in
his present capacity as
superintendent of the RGCCISD.
During his years as a teacher and
principal in Rio Grande City and
McAllen, Saenz has been a
proponent of the idea of educating
the entire self—mentally, physically,
and spiritually. He always
encourages students to do their best
in their classes and to get involved
in extracurricular activities such as
music or sports, frequently
attending these events to show his
support.
The Saenz family has long been
active in the First United Methodist
Church and in community service
organizations.
The Rio Grande City CISD is
nroud to congratulate Ruben Saenz
on his induction into the Hall of
Honor.
The third rabies case of 1993 in
Starr County was confirmed
Monday as a dog in the Los Garcias
area was proven to have been a
carrier of the deadly virus.
Veterinarian Dr. Roberto S.
Margo indicated that Ramiro
Villarreal, who handles animal
control work for the county,
brought in a dog from the Los
Garcias area on Wednesday, Jan. 27.
On Monday, Feb. 1 confirmation
was provided by state authorities
that the animal had indeed been
rabid.
Margo declared, "The dog was
frothing at the mouth, furious if
you agitated him with a stick. It
was pretty close to a textbook case
of rabies." He indicated that the
medium-sized dog, a family pet,
was slightly less than a year old.
Margo said, "This dog lived a
block or two away," from two other
dogs that were confirmed as rabid in
recent weeks.
Margo said, "Apparently, some
humans could have been exposed by
handling the dog. But he (the dog)
didn't bile anyone. To their (the
owners') knowledge, no other
animals were exposed."
There have been 95 confirmed
cases of rabies and one human
fatality in Starr County since the
outbreak began in September 1988.
An El Sauz woman died in August
1991 after exposure to the virus,
apparently through the saliva of a
family pet. There were 13
confirmed cases of rabies in 1992,
11 cases in 1991 and 37 cases in
1990.
There have been 15 confirmed
cases of rabies in Starr County in
ihe last five months alone.
The rabies problem has spread as
far north as Victoria, as there were
more than 100 confirmed cases in
1992 in the South Texas area.
In view of the worsening
problem, Margo stressed that it is
more important than ever before for
Starr County residents to keep their
pets' vaccinations up to date on an
annual basis. The veterinarian added
that people must humanely dispose
of unwanted animals and
completely avoid strange animals.
Suspect in Escobares slaying
caught near Sullivan City
A 26-year-old illegal alien
suspected of involvement in the
slaying of an 18-year-old Roma
man in the Escobares area Thursday
evening was arrested by the Starr
and Hidalgo County Sheriffs
Departments near Sullivan City
early Monday afternoon.
Sheriff Gene Falcon indicated that
Jorge Hernandez Benitez, 26, was
arrested without resistance at about
2 p.m. Monday afternoon at a
house south of Sullivan City in
Hidalgo County.
Falcon indicated Wednesday
morning that Benitez was being
held without bond in the Starr
County jail. Benitez was originally
detained in Hidalgo County.
Benitez was arrested for suspected
involvement in the slaying of Juan
Angel Garcia, 18, in the Escobares
area just after 10 p.m. Thursday.
Sheriff Falcon indicated that the
Sheriffs Department was contacted
about the shooting at
approximately 10:15 p.m.
Thursday.
Falcon said, "According to
witnesses, a Chevrolet vehicle
approached with four occupants.
The victim went out of a friend's
apartment...The deceased answered
the door, quickly closed it and that's
when the shooting began."
The sheriff added, "They (the four
individuals) called him out.
Initially, the victim was inside the
apartment behind the door. There
were other persons, two other male
subjects, inside the apartment.
Some cocaine and a small amount
of marijuana were found."
The three other individuals inside
the Chevrolet are also being sought
for questioning, stated the sheriff.
Falcon indicated that Garcia "was
shot six times. He was shot in the
chest, stomach, neck, jaw and
thigh." A short time later, the
victim was pronounced dead at Stan-
County Memorial Hospital by
Justice of the Peace Jose Adan
"Coche" Garcia.
Most, and possibly ali, of the
shots were fired through the closed
door. Falcon stated that evidence
indicates some type of
.9-miltimeter weapon may have
been used in the slaying.
An arrest warrant was soon issued
for Benitez. Falcon indicated
Monday afternoon, "The
investigation is continuing. We're
looking for the other occupants."
Also arrested near Sullivan City
Monday afternoon, at a house close
to the location of Benitez' capture,
was Domingo Olivarez. Falcon said
that Olivarez was arrested "on other
warrants," but will be questioned
about the slaying of Garcia. As of
Wednesday morning, Olivarez was
being held in the Starr County jail.
Falcon indicated, "Apparently,
more than one gun was fired. We
think there could be more than one
gunman."
Concerning a possible motive,
Falcon said, "Apparently, there was
some type of family dispute."
The apartment where the slaying
took place is located about 300
yards south of U.S. Highway 83 in
Escobares, declared Falcon.
Ihe sheriff indicated that Benitez
served approximately a year in the
Texas Department of Corrections
during the 1980's for an aggravated
assault conviction.
Probe into assault
case continues
The Sheriffs Department is
continuing its investigation into
the knifing of a 62-year-old Rio
Grande City CISD teacher Monday
evening.
Sheriff Gene Falcon told The Rio
Grande Herald late Tuesday
afternoon, "The incident was
reported to the Sheriffs Department
by the hospital at 6:46 p.m."
Richard Bunker sustained severe
throat injuries as his throat was
slashed with a knife. Bunker
remained in stable condition at Stan-
County Memorial Hospital late
Tuesday afternoon.
Falcon noted that Bunker's car, a
1993 four-door brown Mitsubishi,
is also missing.
The sheriff indicated, "Three
suspects, all of them students, are
being sought." Falcon stated
Wednesday morning that the
suspects were still at large." He
declared that he hoped the suspects
would be available for questioning
in the next day or so.
Falcon said, "We haven't
established a crime scene as of yet."
Little League
meeting Monday
The Rio Grande City Little
League Board of Directors will hold
a meeting on Monday night, Feb. 8
at 7 p.m. to conclude election of
officers and work on this year's
baseball program.
The meeting will be held at 7
p.m. on Monday at the Community
Action Council of South Texas
Administration Building, 111 Pete
Diaz Jr. Avenue.
a
The grand opening for R.E. Office Supplies in Rio Grande City was held on Jan.
22. Store owner Rosa h. Garza is pictured above cutting the ribbon. To her right is
co-owner Roel A. Gon/alez. 1 he ribbon-cutting took under the auspices of the Rio
Grande City Chamber of Commerce.
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 4, 1993, newspaper, February 4, 1993; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195378/m1/1/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.